(SAN DIEGO) No. 1 seed PLNU Men's Basketball rolled into the Sweet 16 for the second time in three years with a runaway 82-64 victory over No. 5 seed Cal State San Bernardino on Saturday night in Golden Gym.
Zackry Paulsen led five Sea Lions in double figures with 24 points, scoring 11 points in a 14-0 run that came in a 1:15 span in the second half to seal the game.
After taking an eight-point lead into the locker room, PLNU led by no fewer than four after the break. The Coyotes made it a two-possession game before
Luke Haupt capped off a 7-0 Sea Lions' stretch with a tough layup at the basket.
From there on out, Point Loma was in full control, attacking the basket with regularity and getting to the foul line. PLNU attempted more free throws (43) than field goals (41) on the night, with
Zackry Paulsen going 13-for-14 at the charity stripe.
Coby Barnes' triple then extended the Sea Lions' lead to as many as 24 with 1:45 remaining.
After making only two shots from behind the arc in a loss at CSUSB on Nov. 16, the Sea Lions made nine triples on Saturday, three from
Zackry Paulsen and two apiece from
Tyce Paulsen and
Coby Barnes.
Tyce Paulsen scored 12 points, while Haupt,
Jaden Matingou and
Wynton Brown all scored 10 each. Barnes added nine.
Matingou and Brown led a second unit that outscored that of the Coyotes, 23-0.
Point Loma (29-5 overall) will now play against second-seeded and No. 12 Cal State Dominguez Hills (27-5) on Monday in the West Regional championship.
Tip-off in Golden Gym is scheduled for 7 p.m.
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
